By Emma Foster, Swimming World College Intern
For many, December represents the most wonderful time of the year, but for college students the joy of the holidays is often intermixed with the stress of final exams. Finals week in college is one of those times that you get through and then block from your mind until the next go-around. With papers, projects, and tests weighing on you, every student experiences a whole new kind of stress.
For student-athletes, this stress is sometimes compounded by their practice schedules and other sports-related commitments. While many coaches offer athletes a more relaxed version of practices, or give them several options to accommodate different schedules, for a stressed, caffeinated college student the practice time that you have been managing to fit in all year suddenly seems insurmountable. While it is understandable for this to occur, there are several ways to combat the stress of final weeks and emerge with both grades you can be proud of and uninterrupted progress in the pool.
1. Plan ahead before finals week.
The best thing that a college swimmer can do leading up to finals week is to plan ahead. Scheduling is key, so that you do not suddenly look down at your calendar and realize you have twelve hours to study for three different tests, and make it to the weight room.
Figuring out several weeks ahead of time whether there is a paper you can get finished early, or a group project you can take the lead on in order to finish in a timely manner is absolutely guaranteed to save you stress down the road. Remember that the time commitment in finals week is actually not that much greater that your daily routine, and in some ways it might actually give you more hours in the day. Cutting out class time provides you with time to hit the books and get ready for those tests. Just remember to use this time for studying instead of watching Netflix. Planning and using your time effectively early in the week will lead to a much happier end to your finals.
2. Check your routine.
Photo Courtesy: Maggie McKenna
Finals week is not the time to suddenly stop doing all the healthy things you have been doing to take care of yourself for the rest of the semester/quarter. Sleep is a necessary part of life, especially for athletes, so no matter how tempting it is to stay up late every night of finals week trying to get stuff done it is not the best choice for you to make. There are many studies out there that champion the importance of a good night’s sleep over cramming all night for a test. Give your body the chance to do its best, just like you would if you were preparing for a taper meet.
Similarly, make sure that you’re remembering to eat well-balanced meals regularly during the day. When you are studying all day, it can be tempting to snack mindlessly rather than staying on your normal eating schedule. Resist this urge and stick to the schedule that has been working for you all semester.
3. Go to office hours.
Photo Courtesy: Swimming World TV
This I cannot stress enough. Go to office hours. Most professors offer more hours during finals week, and a smart student will take advantage of this. This is your last chance to make a good impression, to ask clarifying questions, or even to just cement a relationship that could lead to letters of rec or job opportunities down the road. Taking the time to stop by their office will almost certainly save you time glaring at your paper assignment in frustration, and give you an opportunity to succeed on a test that you are feeling nervous about. Professors care about students who care, so make sure that you are one of them.
4. Swim.
Photo Courtesy: J.D. Lasica
This is important for so many reasons. As overwhelming as finals week can be, no good can come out of locking yourself in the library for a week straight. We all need breaks, and rather than mindlessly watching an episode of Netflix that quickly turns into two, and then six, heading to the pool and letting your mind drift while your body works off some of its energy will result in you feeling refreshed and even relaxed.
Remember, you have managed to maintain a schedule throughout your entire semester that at first glance probably seemed impossible. For some reason, many swimmers reach finals week and lose that faith in themselves. But you can do it, and keeping your body in the swimming routine will not only ensure you don’t lose any of the work you have painstakingly been putting in in the last four months, but it will also give you a greater opportunity to give your brain some much needed offtime in order for it to perform when you need it most.
5. Find study groups.
Photo Courtesy: Bill Slattery Jr.
Everyone studies differently, but having people around to keep you on track and fight off the finals week hysteria can be extremely beneficial. While working with classmates in preparation for a test is awesome, you don’t even necessarily need to be working with people who are working on the same thing as you. Grabbing some of your swimming friends and taking up a corner of the library can make finals crunch time both more productive and more fun. Misery loves company, but when you’re surrounded by your friends you might be surprised to note that you’re actually kind of having fun.
6. Stay positive.
Photo Courtesy: J.D. Lasica
The most important thing you can do for yourself during finals week is to stay positive. As daunting as a paper or test seems, in the end it is just a paper or test. You have been working hard all semester, and there is no reason that this final push won’t result in success. Even if things are currently stressful, you know you are going to get through it, and once your final paper is turned in its on to the holiday break, filled with training trips, family time, and holiday cookies. Happy finals!